Accessibility Links

Father and son killed hiking in the French Alps named

Peter Saunders, 48, and his son Charlie, 12, fell to their deaths while exploring a mountain trail between Bossons and Les Houches near Mont Blanc. It is understood the boy fell several hundred yards and the father also plunged to his death after phoning for help

Emily Payne

March 17 2013, 1:25pm, The Sunday Times

The bodies of a 48 year-old Briton and his 12 year-old son were found in the Bossons area (Jean-Pierre Clatot)

A BRITISH man and his son have been killed in the French Alps after falling while hiking near Mont Blanc, Europe's highest peak.

Peter Saunders, 48, and his son Charlie, 12, were in the Chamonix area, exploring a mountain trail between Bossons and Les Houches, which is deemed rocky, slippery and dangerous in winter.

It is understood the boy fell several hundred yards down a cliff and it appears the father also fell to his death after phoning for help.

Local journalists said Peter Saunders is thought to have made a call by mobile phone to the mountain police squad at Annecy at 2pm yesterday, saying his son had fallen and he could no longer see him.

But he was cut off and rescue teams…

Want to read more?

Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.